Why the secrecy on GM crop trials?

Page Tools

The State Government should release information about the trial sites.

Part of the problem with the issue of genetically modified crops in Australia is that the debate about them has itself barely germinated. In the same way that plant varietal rights failed to ignite the public imagination a few years ago, the prospect of multinational companies producing broadacre crops of GM cereals has yet to generate robust public discussion.

What passes for informed debate tends to be muddied by pseudo-science and popular hysteria generated on both sides. One of the reasons for this is that the debate is largely being conducted in an information vacuum.

The Victorian Government decision not to release details on where GM crop trials are being conducted in this state is symptomatic of this. Given the firm opposition of some in the community to GM products, wanting to keep the location secret is understandable from the growers' point of view. There are genuine security concerns. But as with other sensitive crops - such as opium poppies in Tasmania - it is ultimately the responsibility of the growers to secure their properties.

It is disturbing that the State Government has bowed to the wishes of a foreign company, Bayer CropScience, in declining to reveal the information. The firm has, in turn, refused to reveal the locations of four already planted GM trial sites. The Government, while not bound by a confidentiality agreement, has cited respect for the commercial arrangements of Bayer in not disclosing the location of the trials. On balance this does not seem to be sufficient reason to hide the location of these trials from the Victorian public. In the case of local farmers and property owners - including those beyond the stipulated 400-metre buffer - there is a clear interest in knowing where the trial crops are. As it stands, the secrecy under which the trials are taking place only gives rise to suspicion.

The difficulty is that the whole GM issue remains unresolved. The mosaic of regulation in Australia has already discouraged the giant Monsanto corporation from pursuing GM canola trials here. While Victoria has placed a four-year ban (until 2008) on the commercial planting of GM crops, it has made allowance for trials to continue. But there are profound divisions between scientists, farmers and environmentalists about the risks. There are concerns about possible health implications and the capacity of modified genes to spread to wild plants.

GM crops are designed to be resistant to pests and herbicides, with better yields and nutritional content. But there is virtually no way of preventing the contamination of non-GM crops through wind or insect pollination. Another issue in the Australian context is whether there is likely to be a significant increase in overall food production as a result of GM technology, and whether - given the level of resistance worldwide to GM crops - it might not be preferable in the long run to remain a GM-free "clean, green" food producer.